By James Fantasia, GM – Football, from Arizona, USA
The Western Bulldogs pre-season training programme has taken a different look in preparation for season 2009. This has included taking the full playing group to one of the world’s leaders in elite sporting education and training.
Over a number of years now the club has been persisting with raising funds and working toward the idea of exposing its playing group and staff to world class educational experiences.
With great support from key people such as Western Bulldogs Patron and Director Sue Alberti, a delegation of supporters, Director Barry Hall, Glenn Preusker, Stuart Coffield, Grant Egan and Levent Shevki along with players and currently situated staff contributing to the pre-season education and training camp; the team has spent the past few days at the Arizona State University.
The Athletes Performance Centre based in Phoenix, Arizona has been the corner stone to the educational experience which has included exposure to other sports such as American Gridiron, NBA Basketball and NHL Ice Hockey. Further to this the players have been completing regular football training sessions at the Arizona State University and will be hiking through the Grand Canyon adding to its pre-season training and preparation.
The team has also spent time in the class room finetuning its educational sessions centred on team play, tactics and its game plans heading into season 2009. The Western Bulldogs commenced the Leading Teams program in season 2008 and have recommenced this program through the pre-season education and training camp with sessions being facilitated by leading teams’ facilitator Craig Biddiscombe who is also on tour.
The travelling party has included 40 players, Coaches, Medical staff and Senior Administrators including CEO Campbell Rose. This has also provided a vehicle for most areas of the clubs football operations to work closely together and experience this unique educational opportunity as a complete club experience.
A summary of the highlights to date include:
Day 1
The first day included a solid travel schedule that saw the team depart at 12.15pm from Melbourne to travel some 15 hours before arriving in Los Angeles at 7.30am. A further 5 hour wait was required before flying from LA to Phoenix arriving in the afternoon at the same time they left on the same day. One of the marvels of travelling around the world time zone! This followed a light training run and stretch for the playing group before heading to the ASU Sun Devils v UCLA Bruins Gridiron football match. The college match played at the famous Sun Devil Stadium was attended by 60,000 spectators and was a great spectacle and experience for the players.
Day 2
The day started with breakfast followed by another light training session, stretching and mobility exercises. The afternoon included weights and recovery session and a chance for the group to rest for before heading to the class room for some sit down sessions. Craig Biddiscombe commenced the Leading Teams program and was followed by the coaches’ line presentations, team play and tactics educational session.
Day 3
Our first real football training session was held at Tempe and was keenly watched by the local AFL team the Arizona Hawks. The local boys were over the moon with the opportunity of watching the training session and meeting our playing group. The afternoon included another weights session and recovery at the local swimming pool. With temperatures consistently at 25 degrees the weather has been testing for the playing group with the boys responding well to the conditions. The evening included further class room activities based around the Leading Teams program and further game plan education. The players attended the NBA match between the Phoenix Suns and New Jersey Nets with the highlight of watching Shaquille O’Neil strut his stuff.
Day 4
The commencement of the Athletes Performance program saw the team split into four groups and attend world leading facilities. The group under went training techniques in power, strength and mobility, combined with a nutritional educational program, recovery techniques, and hydrotherapy work. Whilst at the facility the players also had the opportunity of meeting NBA and League Baseballers that were there for individual training instruction. The evening’s team dinner was sponsored by Stuart Coffield of Bulldogs Travel and the players were treated to some of the finest steaks Arizona has to offer.
Day 5
The second day of the Athletes Performance program. Members of the touring party visited the home of the Arizona Cardinals at the university of Phoenix stadium the home of the 2007 super bowl. The $450 million dollar facility was a great example of a modern engineering marvel with the retractable roof and role in role out grass playing arena. The state of the art facility seats 62,000 and is the jewel in the crown of sporting stadiums in Arizona. The evening was a highlight with the team attending the Arizona Coyotes v LA Kings NHA Ice Hockey match. The team was acknowledged to the crowd of 20,000 through the game and proved to be a great experience for our players and officials.
Day 6
The morning included another solid football session combined with a running and conditioning segment. The staff of Athlete Performance were invited to take part in the warm up and skill session and were pleasantly surprised at the level of skill and endurance required to play our game. A new level of respect was evident by this involvement.
